My interest in Lamborghinis started back in 1978. When I was a kid, the name alone was all you needed to conjure up an exotic image.

Photo: Stephen Finerty

My interest in Lamborghinis started back in 1978. When I was a kid,...

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In mid-1979 I spotted a 1968 series Islero for sale in Laguna Beach. This one was a beauty, but my chance at Islero ownership would have to wait. I didn't know it at the time, but finding Isleros would be a theme in my life.

Photo: Stephen Finerty

In mid-1979 I spotted a 1968 series Islero for sale in Laguna...

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In 2006 I was standing among the Lamborghinis at Concorso Italiano with that very same friend, Paul, when we eyed a beautiful '69 Islero. We took photos, but no owner was in sight.

Photo: Stephen Finerty

In 2006 I was standing among the Lamborghinis at Concorso Italiano...

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Six months later, my quest for a new car began when I heard there was an Islero for sale "somewhere" in Northern California. I inquired around my usual circuits, but there was little help with specifics.

Photo: Stephen Finerty

Six months later, my quest for a new car began when I heard there...

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I learned that many people were pursuing this car, and I was wondering if it was the one I lusted after in 2006? After weeks of sleuthing the elusive Lamborghini through a midwestern broker, the story unfolded: the indigo blue Islero from the Consorso would be mine.

Photo: Stephen Finerty

I learned that many people were pursuing this car, and I was...

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My partner and I frequently drive the car on family vacations, for quick weekend getaways and sometimes to do a little restaurant reconnaissance.

Photo: Stephen Finerty

My partner and I frequently drive the car on family vacations, for...

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The Islero really sparks the imagination, as folks fueling up happily approach me with smiles, questions, and their own stories. I frequently get asked about the name "Islero," which came from a well-known, large and brutish Spanish bull that killed a famed matador in 1947.

Photo: Stephen Finerty

The Islero really sparks the imagination, as folks fueling up...

Image 8 of 12

The 1969 Lamborghini Islero has a horsepower of 350 and some pretty nice amenities, including front and rear independent suspension, air conditioning, electric windows, a wood steering wheel and an all-leather interior.

Photo: Stephen Finerty

The 1969 Lamborghini Islero has a horsepower of 350 and some pretty...

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The car, with its sleek, quintessentially Italian sex appeal, can reach 160 miles an hour. I, however, haven't experienced that speed. But I am sure I have taken it faster than I should have.

Photo: Stephen Finerty

The car, with its sleek, quintessentially Italian sex appeal, can...

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One of my favorite drives is Skyline down to Santa Cruz. My 12-year-old son is a frequent co-pilot with me, so we aren't breaking records, just enjoying the ride.

Photo: Stephen Finerty

One of my favorite drives is Skyline down to Santa Cruz. My...

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John Clark is photographed with his 1969 Lamborghini Islero roadster at Lord Jims parking lot at the Berkeley Marina in Berkeley, CA on January 8, 2012. Clark is the chef and co-owner of two popular dining destinations in San Francisco - Foreign Cinema and Show Dogs.

John Clark is the chef and co-owner of two popular dining destinations in San Francisco - Foreign Cinema and Show Dogs.

My interest in Lamborghinis started back in 1978. When I was a kid, the name alone was all you needed to conjure up an exotic image.

Upon high school graduation, my friend Paul and I worked on our own cars and cars for others, and reading about them was part of our self-education. Paul's copy of "The History of Lamborghini" was read cover to cover repeatedly, with each picture examined and then re-examined countless times. The black-and-white Islero on page 94 became my favorite car.

In mid-1979 I spotted a 1968 series Islero for sale in Laguna Beach, where I lived with my parents, for $7,500 - which was quite a bit of dough for a kid between high school and college. This one was a beauty, but despite a thrilling test drive, my chance at Islero ownership would have to wait. I didn't know it at the time, but finding Isleros would be a theme in my life.

In 2006 I was standing among the Lamborghinis at Concorso Italiano with that very same friend, Paul, when we eyed a beautiful '69 Islero; it was page 94 come to life. We took photos, but no owner was in sight.

Six months later, my quest for a new car began when I heard there was an Islero for sale "somewhere" in Northern California. I inquired around my usual circuits, but there was little help with specifics. I learned that many people were pursuing this car, and I was wondering if it was the one I lusted after in 2006? After weeks of sleuthing the elusive Lamborghini through a midwestern broker, the story unfolded: the indigo blue Islero from the Consorso would be mine.

My partner and I frequently drive the car on family vacations, for quick weekend getaways and sometimes to do a little restaurant reconnaissance. One visit to a Salinas farmer we source from proved to be a little stressful because the road leading to the farm was rough, rocky and muddy. As much fun as it was to get it there, the undercarriage was not "happy" and required a little work upon returning home.

On one family outing we discovered that the Lambo's gas cap was left at a gas station where we had filled up 70 miles or so away, prompting a frantic call to the station (they had it!) and a quick jaunt back down the freeway to retrieve it. Precious Lamborghini items such as gas caps are hard to find - and are just as important as the steering wheel! That was a hard-earned lesson, and I now check twice every time I fill up and smile when I'm sure it's back in place.

Gas stations also prove to be a people-magnet for the car. The Islero really sparks the imagination, as folks fueling up happily approach me with smiles, questions, and their own stories. I frequently get asked about the name "Islero," which came from a well-known, large and brutish Spanish bull that killed a famed matador in 1947. The 1969 Lamborghini Islero has a horsepower of 350 and some pretty nice amenities, including front and rear independent suspension, air conditioning, electric windows, a wood steering wheel and an all-leather interior.

The car, with its sleek, quintessentially Italian sex appeal, can reach 160 miles an hour. I, however, haven't experienced that speed. But I am sure I have taken it faster than I should have.

One of my favorite drives is Skyline down to Santa Cruz. My 12-year-old son is a frequent co-pilot with me, so we aren't breaking records, just enjoying the ride.

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